Apparatus for joining cylindrical sections

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, including a semi-cylindrical profile member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of the profile member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression member coupled to the profile member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment members on end portions thereof. The circumferential ridge of the profile member couples to the circumferential groove of the compression member. One of the circumferential ridges of one of the tension members couples to respective of the circumferential groove of the profile member. The attachment members of the tension members couple to respective of the attachment members of the compression member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/______, entitled “JOINING RING ASSEMBLY FOR MODULAR VEHICLE,” filed on Aug. 30, 2000, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] The present invention was made in part with U.S. Government support under United States Office of Naval Research & Coastal Systems Station contract number N61331-99-C0046 awarded on Aug. 26, 1999. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an apparatus for joining cylindrical sections and more specifically to an apparatus for joining cylindrical sections of, for example, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

[0005] 2. Discussion of the Background

[0006] In recent years, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), such as small robotic submarines, etc., have been developed. Such vehicles, however, are not robust nor easily serviceable. In addition, such AUVs are complex robots by their nature and periodic maintenance thereof is difficult. Further, such AUVs do not provide easy access to the inside of the AUV. Moreover, such AUVs are produced in relatively small numbers and different customers may want different payloads integrated into the AUV. However, such vehicles typically are not of a modular design allowing different sections to be combined quickly, such as in the case of the swapping of a sensor section, the swapping of a battery section, etc. Finally, such vehicles typically are not able to be split into different sections to facilitate shipping thereof.

[0007] Accordingly, present devices for joining cylindrical sections, such as those that could be used in an AUV, do not provide a robust system addressing the above-noted problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention recognizes that currently no apparatus is available to allow the joining of cylindrical sections together, while performing various functions, such as indexing the different sections to each other, providing a means to separate the sections in both lateral and longitudinal directions, making a connection that is flush with the outside surface of the corresponding cylinder, providing a strong mechanical connection, etc. Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above-noted and other problems and deficiencies associated with the joining of cylindrical sections together.

[0009] The above described and other objects are addressed by the present invention which provides a novel apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, including a semi-cylindrical profile member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of the profile member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression member coupled to the profile member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment members on end portions thereof. The circumferential ridge of the profile member couples to the circumferential groove of the compression member. One of the circumferential ridges of one of the tension members couples to respective of the circumferential groove of the profile member. The attachment members of the tension members couple to respective of the attachment members of the compression member.

[0010] Consistent with the title of this section, the above summary is not intended to be an exhaustive discussion of all the features or embodiments of the present invention. A more complete, although not necessarily exhaustive, description of the features and embodiments of the invention is found in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1a is a perspective view illustrating an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), including joining rings assemblies according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 1b is a perspective view illustrating the AUV of FIG. 1a with a vehicle section removed, via a joining ring assembly according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a joining ring assembly, a profile section, and a vehicle faring section of the AUV of FIG. 1a, according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a tension band of the joining ring assembly of FIG. 2, according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a detailed top view illustrating a compression ring of the joining ring assembly of FIG. 2, according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-section view of the compression ring of FIG. 4, according to the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a detailed side view illustrating a compression ring of the joining ring assembly of FIG. 2, according to the present invention;

[0019]FIGS. 7a and 7 b are detailed views illustrating end and hole features of the compression ring of FIG. 5, according to the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a detailed view illustrating attachment features of the compression ring of FIG. 4, according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-section view of the attachment features of the compression ring of FIG. 8, according to the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view illustrating an attachment feature of the compression ring of FIG. 8, according to the present invention;

[0023]FIGS. 11a and 11 b are detailed side views illustrating the attachment features of the compression ring of FIG. 8, according to the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) of FIG. 1a taken at a joining ring assembly, according to the present invention; and

[0025]FIG. 13 is a stress diagram taken at a profile section of the AUV of FIG. 1a, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1a thereof, there is illustrated a perspective view of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) 100, including joining rings assemblies 104 according to the present invention. In FIG. 1a, the AUV 100 includes a hemispherical nose section 102, one or more joining ring assemblies 104, cylindrical mid-body sections 106, and tail cone sections 108. The joining ring assemblies 104 join the nose section 102 to the body sections 106 and the body sections 106 to the tail sections 108. The AUV 100 may include load bearing rings 110 for raising and lowing the AUV 100 into the water via straps 112. The nose 102, body 106 and tail cone 108 (i.e., the fairing) sections may typically be constructed from a lightweight, strong and robust engineering plastic (e.g., ABS plastic, etc), although other materials such as metallic materials may be utilized.

[0027] As will be further described, the AUV 100 of FIG. 1a, according to the present invention, provides swappable nose 102, body 106 and tail 108 sections, easy access and the ability to break the assembly down into smaller components for shipping, without compromising the mechanical integrity of the AUV 100 and while preserving a smooth vehicle exterior in order to minimize hydrodynamic drag. The tail cone 108 and the mid-body 106 sections may include top and bottom shells as shown in FIG. 1a.

[0028]FIG. 1b is a perspective view illustrating the AUV 100 of FIG. 1a with a vehicle section 108 removed, via the joining ring assembly 104, according to the present invention, as will no be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a joining ring assembly 104 including a profile section 202 that couples to the fairing, for example, mid-body section 106, of the AUV of FIG. 1a. The profile section 202 of the joining ring assemblies 104 may also be made of ABS plastic and may be attached to the fairing, for example, section 106 via adhesive bond between portions 202 a and 106 a. As an alternative, the profile section 202 may be integrally formed with the fairing, or attached to the fairing in any other manner, such as with screws, bolts, rivets, etc. Although not shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity, both the bottom and the top half of the respective fairing sections 106/108 have a profile section 202 glued to an end portion thereof. Thus, for example, the joining ring assembly 104 joining the mid-body sections 106 to the tails cone sections 108 uses four profiles 202.

[0030] A compression ring 206 is included for each vehicle section and is coupled to the profile section 202 at the end of the fairing via groove 206 c that mates with ridge 202 c of the profile 202. On the side of the compression ring 206 are attachment features 206 a and 206 b for attaching to a tension band 204 that couples two such compression rings 206 via components 204 a-204 c. One joining ring 104 assembly thus uses two compression rings 206. The compression rings 206 thus re-enforce the fairing at the interface thereof. The tension band 204 thus goes around the outside of both profiles 202 from each section such that ridges 204 d and 204 e engage with respective grooves 202 b of the profiles 202. The tension band 204 is semi-cylindrical. Thus, one joining ring assembly 104 uses two semi-cylindrical tension bands 204 as shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., one on the top and one on the bottom of the sections that are being joined).

[0031]FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the tension band 204 of the joining ring assembly 104 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a detailed top view illustrating the compression ring 206 of the joining ring assembly 104 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-section view taken at line 5 of the compression ring 206 of FIG. 4 and including hole portions 502 that are used to accommodate the fixtures 206 a and 206 b via, for example, a weld joint.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a detailed side view illustrating the compression ring 206 of the joining ring assembly 104 of FIG. 2. FIGS. 7a and 7 b are detailed views illustrating the groove 206 c and hole 502 features of the compression ring 206 of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a detailed view illustrating attachment features 206 a and 206 b attached to respective hole 502 features of the compression ring 206 of FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-section view of the attachment features 206 a and 206 b attached to respective hole 502 features taken at line 9 of the compression ring 206 of FIG. 8.

[0033]FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the attachment feature 206 b of the compression ring 206 of Figure. FIGS. 11a and 11 b are detailed side views illustrating the attachment features 206 a and 206 b attached to respective hole 502 features of the compression ring 206 of FIG. 8.

[0034]FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) 100 of FIG 1 a taken at a joining ring assembly 104. In the FIG. 12, the tail 108 and mid-body 106 sections are coupled to respective profiles 202 via, for example, adhesive 1202. The profiles 202 are couple to the respective compression rings 206 via the tension band 204. The top surface of the finished assembly thus provides a smooth vehicle exterior in order to minimize hydrodynamic drag.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each compression ring 206 can, for example, withstand 600 lbs. of tension. FIG. 13 is a stress diagram taken at a cross-section of the profile section 202 of the AUV 100 of FIG. 1a. In FIG. 13, the tension band 204 (not shown) engages to the top of the profile 202 via the ridges 204 d/204 e and the grooves 202 b of the profiles 202. The groove 206 c of the compression ring 206 (not shown) engages on the bottom of the profile 202 via the ridge 202 c. The flat top section 202 a of the profile 202 is attached to the fairing 106 at portion 106 a thereof via adhesive (e.g., industrial strength glue, etc.).

[0036] The stress analysis of FIG. 13 shows that the highest stress is the rounded corners of the top groove 202 b, as shown by arrows “A”. According to the present invention, even for extreme loads, the maximum equivalent stress is, for example, about half the yield stress for ABS plastic. Thus, the simple fastening apparatus of the present invention provides an even distribution of stress and allows sections to be split both longitudinally and laterally.

[0037] Accordingly, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) 100, such as small robotic submarines, provided according to the present invention are robust and easily serviceable. Such AUVs 100 are complex robots by their nature and therefore periodic maintenance thereof is desirable and easily achieved according to the present invention. In addition, easy access to the inside of the AUV 100 is also achieved. Further, AUVs 100 may be produced according to the present invention in relatively small numbers and with different payloads integrated into the AUV 100 for different customers. Accordingly, the modular vehicle 100 according to the present invention has distinct advantages in that it allows different sections to be combined quickly, such as in the case of the swapping of a sensor section, the swapping of a battery section, etc. Moreover, being able to split the AUV 100 according to the present invention into different sections greatly facilitates shipping thereof.

[0038] Although the present invention is described in terms of use in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the present invention may be applied to any application that uses cylindrical sections that are to be joined, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s).

[0039] Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

1. An apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, comprising: a semi-cylindrical profile member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of said profile member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression member coupled to said profile member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment members on end portions thereof, wherein said circumferential ridge of said profile member couples to said circumferential groove of said compression member, one of said circumferential ridges of one of said tension members couples to respective of said circumferential groove of said profile member, and said attachment members of said tension members couple to respective of said attachment members of said compression member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said profile member is made of a plastic material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical section is made of a plastic material.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compression member is made of a metallic material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tension members are made of a metallic material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said profile member is adapted to be coupled to said cylindrical section via an adhesive material.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said tension members is separately removable via said attachment members of said tension members and said compression member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compression member is adapted to be coupled to another compression member via said attachment members of said compression member and said another compression member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said tension members are adapted to be coupled to said compression member and said another compression member via said attachment members of said compression member and said another compression member and said attachment members of said tension members.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said another compression member is adapted to be coupled to another profile member via said circumferential ridge of said another profile member and said circumferential groove of said another compression member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said another profile member is adapted to be coupled to another cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of said another profile member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tension members are adapted to be coupled to said profile member and said another profile member via said pair of inner circumferential ridges of said tension members and said outer circumferential groove of said profile member and said another profile member. 